Sheffield fundraisers top the million for St Luke’s hospice

They’re the St Luke’s millionaires... the fundraising volunteers who together have raised more than £1 million for Sheffield’s only hospice.

The St Luke’s Action Group was launched in 1995 and in the 18 years since has taken a major part in organising a range of fundraising activities, the biggest of which is much-loved Sheffield Christmas event, the hospice Festival of Light.

And the team’s efforts were officially recognised at the hospice’s Long Service Awards presentation, held at Sheffield’s Cutlers’ Hall and which honoured the work of the St Luke’s loyal volunteer army.

All 11 members of the action group – including founders Rita Scriven, Dot Smith and group chairman Audrey Rose – received their awards from St Luke’s President Anne Lady Neill and Alex Pettifer, the chairman of the St Luke’s Board of Trustees.

“It really has been a rewarding experience,” said Audrey, who will be retiring from her role as action group chairman next summer.

“Altogether, we believe the action group has now raised more than £1.2 million. We are all extremely proud of the achievement and were delighted our work has been recognised.”

St Luke’s volunteer coordinator Joy Wright said: “The action group is typical of the many people who keep St Luke’s functioning every day.

“We have more than 600 volunteers working in many different areas of hospice life, from staffing our shops to acting as companions for our patients and providing bereavement support for families.

“The evening at the Cutlers’ Hall was a wonderful opportunity for us to give our sincere thanks to those people who have given their time.”

The action group is now working on the next Festival of Light. The switch-on ceremony will be held at St Luke’s on Sunday, December 1, with mulled wine, mince pies, music – and thousands of twinkling lights, each celebrating a life.